The Impact of WWI Peace Treaties and Rise of Dictatorships

Treaty of Saint-Germain

Signed on the 10th of September 1919 with Austria, requiring them to give up land to Poland, Italy, and Czechoslovakia.

Treaty of Neuilly

Signed on the 27th of November 1919 with Bulgaria, requiring them to give up land to Greece and limit their border guard.

Collectivization

State-driven process in Stalinist Russia to consolidate farms under state control.

Propaganda

Essential tool in Stalinist Russia to create a cult of personality.

Single Party Dictatorship

Controlled by Stalinist Russia from late 1920s to 1953.

Benito Mussolini

Established right-wing fascist party in Italy in 1919.

Blackshirts

Violent supporters of Mussolini's fascist party in Italy.

March on Rome

1922 event where Mussolini's fascist party violently seized power in Italy.

Fascist Corporate State

Economic model in Italy with state ownership alongside capitalism.

Dictatorship in Japan

Rooted in dissatisfaction with Treaty of Versailles and economic crisis.

Manchurian Crisis

1931 event where Japan used deception to conquer Manchuria, leading to diplomatic isolation.

League of Nations

International organization Japan left in 1933 due to conflicts.

Nazi Party

Led by Hitler, it rose to power in Germany with a strong nationalist and anti-Semitic ideology.

Weimar Republic

German government established after WWI, facing hyperinflation and political unrest.

Adolf Hitler

Born in 1889, he led the Nazi Party with a radical political agenda.

Mein Kampf

Hitler's book outlining his political philosophy, written during his imprisonment.

Munich Putsch

Hitler's failed attempt in 1923 to seize power in Bavaria, leading to his arrest.

Fuhrer Principle

Basis of Hitler's authority, giving him final decision-making power.

Nazi Organizations

Created by Hitler to appeal to various interest groups and consolidate power.

Swastika

Adopted as the Nazi Party emblem, originally a spiritual symbol.

Heil Hitler Salute

Established as a party ritual in the Nazi regime.

Treaty of Versailles

Signed by Germany in 1919, leading to economic hardships and resentment.

Hyperinflation

Economic crisis in Germany in the 1920s, impacting the middle class severely.

Paul von Hindenburg

Became president of Germany in 1925, a key figure during Hitler's rise.

Great Depression

1929 economic crisis leading to unemployment and political extremism support.

Gleichshaltung

Nazi process to coordinate and transform all aspects of German society

Reichstag Fire

Event where Nazis accused communists of setting fire, leading to emergency decree

Enabling Act

Legislation granting government power to pass laws without Reichstag approval

Night of the Long Knives

Event where Hitler eliminated SA leaders to strengthen grip on Germany

Anti-Semitism

Belief in racial purity and superiority of the Aryan race

Lebensraum

Nazi idea of expanding into Eastern Europe for living space

Autarky

Nazi economic policy for self-sufficiency in raw materials and food

Social Darwinism

Theory of strong races dominating weak races, influencing Nazi race concepts

Volkisch Ideas

Influence on Nazi ideology promoting German nationalism and racial purity

Eugenics

Nazi belief in improving genetic quality through selective breeding

Joseph Goebbels

Nazi Minister of Propaganda controlling media and creating the Fuhrer myth

Heinrich Himmler

SS leader obsessed with racial purity and played a major role in Nazi atrocities

Leni Riefenstahl

Nazi filmmaker known for iconic propaganda films like 'Triumph of the Will'

Führer

Title for Hitler as the ultimate authority in Nazi Germany

Aryan Race

Considered by Nazis as superior and capable of creating culture

Judeo-Bolshevism

Conspiracy theory linking Soviet Communism to Jewish political theory

Democracy

Nazi rejection of parliamentary democracy in favor of strong leadership

Leadership Principle

Belief in the ultimate authority of the Führer in Nazi Germany

Nuremberg Laws

Legislation stripping Jews of rights and originating from Rudolf Hess's office

Gertrud Scholtz-Klink

Responsible for promoting the ideal Aryan family in Nazi Germany

Herman Goering

Nazi official overseeing Gestapo and later Chief of Luftwaffe

Rudolf Hess

Nazi Deputy Führer involved in legislation and Nuremberg Rallies

Ultra-Nationalism

Extreme devotion to the nation, prevalent in opposition to the Weimar Republic

Enabling Law

Foundation for Hitler's dictatorship, established on 24 March 1933

Law Against New Parties

Legal basis for a one-party state, enacted on 14 July 1933

Law for Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Progeny

Permitted forced sterilization of up to 300,000, passed on 14 July 1933

Reich Citizenship Law

Redefined Jews as second-class citizens, implemented on 15 September 1935

Censorship Methods

Closure of newspapers, control of radio, and film approval laws

Nuremberg Party Rallies

Major events celebrating Nazism and fostering a sense of belonging

SA

Nazi paramilitary group used for intimidation and terror, had 2 million members by 1933

Concentration Camps

Developed in the early 1930s, used for confining political opponents and minorities

SS

Elite Nazi force feared for its discipline, obedience, and operation of concentration camps

Hitler's Popularity

Gained support by improving the economy and restoring national pride

Antisemitism Origins

Rooted in historical persecution, exploited by Hitler for political gain

Vilification Phase

Nazi propaganda aimed to create fear and dislike of Jews among Germans

Discrimination Phase

Implementation of laws denying Jews rights and access to various professions

Separation Phase

Progressive removal of Jews from society and resettlement in the East

Kristallnacht

Night of Broken Glass in November 1938, marked by widespread anti-Jewish violence

Cultural Expression Control

Nazi influence on arts and media to align with ideological principles

Nazi Approved Art

Conservative art approved by the state focusing on beauty, idealized depictions of family and rural life, and Aryan superiority.

Degenerate Art

Art deemed as 'Judo Bolshevism' by the Nazis, contrasting with their approved conservative art.

Nazi Propaganda

Art and film industries used as tools for spreading Nazi ideologies and beliefs.

Role of Women in Nazi Germany

Traditional roles emphasized, limiting women's access to education and employment, with financial incentives for staying home and having children.

Nazi Education System

Utilized to control and manipulate young people's learning and outlook, emphasizing obedience to state authority and racist ideas.

Nazi Policies on Religion

Promised religious freedom but aimed to eradicate organized religion to prevent competition with Nazi ideology.

Nazi Youth and Workers

Focused on indoctrinating youth through physical activities and creating a dedicated workforce, with specific emphasis on fitness and motherhood preparation.

Nazi Economic Policies

Successful in reducing unemployment through rearmament and initiatives like the Strength Through Joy organization.

Reich Labour Service

Required six months of manual labor for the Reich, contributing to the reduction of employed women and minority groups.

Opposition to the Nazi Regime

Despite significant success in neutralizing opposition, some resistance existed from conservative elements and a few religious figures.

League of Nations and United States

Both served as platforms for international agreements and discussions among countries.

Failure of the League of Nations

Primarily attributed to a lack of enforcement power and inability to prevent aggressive actions by member states.

Versailles Treaty

The most significant component of the Paris Peace Settlement, signed on the 28th of June 1919, imposing consequences against Germany after WWI.

Treaty of Trianon

Signed on the 4th of June 1920 with Hungary, requiring them to give up land and limit their army and weaponry.

Treaty of Sevres

Signed on the 10th of August 1920 with the Ottoman Empire, requiring them to give up land, limit their army and navy, and face economic restrictions.

Kapp Putsch

An attempted overthrow of the German government triggered by the desire to meet the military clauses of the Treaty of Versailles in 1920.

Freikorps

Right-wing paramilitary militias raised in the aftermath of WWI and during the German Revolution, consisting largely of World War I veterans.

Stalin

Joseph Stalin, a communist dictator in Russia known for his 'Cult of Personality' and presenting himself as a god-like leader.

Stalinist Russia

Under Stalin, Russia faced terror, famine, and labor camps with one political party.

Great Purge

Key 1930s terror tactic in Stalinist Russia to eliminate political enemies.